Introduction
Your liver is one of the most important organs in your body, responsible for filtering toxins, producing bile, and helping to regulate hormones. Unfortunately, many of us don’t pay enough attention to our livers until something goes wrong. Knowing the signs that your liver isn’t as strong as it should be can help you take steps to improve your liver health and prevent serious health issues. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the sure signs that your liver isn’t as strong as it should be, and provide tips on what to eat and what to avoid to keep your liver healthy.
Sure Signs Your Liver Isn’t As Strong As It Should Be
Your liver is one of the most important organs in your body, and it’s essential to keep it healthy. But how do you know if your liver isn’t as strong as it should be? Here are some sure signs that your liver may need some extra attention.
1. Unexplained Weight Loss
Unexplained weight loss is one of the most common signs of a weakened liver. If you’re not trying to lose weight and you’re still shedding pounds, it could be a sign that your liver isn’t functioning properly. If you’re experiencing unexplained weight loss, it’s important to see your doctor right away.
2. Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain is another common sign of a weakened liver. If you’re experiencing pain in your abdomen, it could be a sign that your liver isn’t functioning properly. If you’re experiencing abdominal pain, it’s important to see your doctor right away.
3. Fatigue
Fatigue is another common sign of a weakened liver. If you’re feeling tired all the time, it could be a sign that your liver isn’t functioning properly. If you’re experiencing fatigue, it’s important to see your doctor right away.
4. Yellowing of the Skin and Eyes
Yellowing of the skin and eyes is another common sign of a weakened liver. If you’re noticing a yellowish tint to your skin or eyes, it could be a sign that your liver isn’t functioning properly. If you’re experiencing yellowing of the skin and eyes, it’s important to see your doctor right away.
5. Dark Urine
Dark urine is another common sign of a weakened liver. If you’re noticing that your urine is darker than usual, it could be a sign that your liver isn’t functioning properly. If you’re experiencing dark urine, it’s important to see your doctor right away.
Eat This, Not That
If you’re looking to keep your liver healthy, it’s important to make sure you’re eating the right foods. Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins is a great way to keep your liver healthy. Avoiding processed foods, sugary drinks, and alcohol is also important for keeping your liver healthy.
Liver disease is the cause of almost 2 million deaths every year, many of which are preventable. “When the liver is not functioning as well and the liver cells aren’t able to do their jobs, the liver is kind of like the trashcan of the body,” says transplant hepatologist Christina Lindenmeyer, MD. “It filters all of the blood from the body and the abdomen and the legs, it flows through the liver back to the heart, and so it’s the liver’s job to clear many of the toxins in conjunction with the kidney. So if the liver isn’t working well, it isn’t able to clear these toxins. These toxins can build up and lead to confusion.” Here are five signs of liver damage, according to experts. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.
Being overweight or obese is strongly correlated with liver issues, doctors warn. “Weight loss of roughly 5% of your body weight might be enough to improve abnormal liver tests and decrease the fat in the liver,” says Wynne Armand, MD. “Losing between 7% and 10% of body weight seems to decrease the amount of inflammation and injury to liver cells, and it may even reverse some of the damage of fibrosis. Target a gradual weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds per week, as very rapid weight loss may worsen inflammation and fibrosis. You may want to explore the option of weight loss surgery with your doctor, if you aren’t making any headway with weight loss and your health is suffering.”
Certain over-the-counter medications and supplements can cause liver damage, according to experts. “Make sure that none of your medications, herbs, and supplements are toxic to the liver; you can crosscheck your list with this LiverTox,” says Dr. Armand. “Even acetaminophen (the generic ingredient in Tylenol and some cold medicines) may be harmful if you take too much for too long, especially if you have liver disease or drink alcohol heavily.”
Drinking too much alcohol can cause serious liver damage, doctors warn. “Alcohol intake is the leading cause of cirrhosis, so avoiding alcohol or at least minimizing your use can help,” says Julio Gutierrez, MD. “We recommend that men limit their intake to two drinks per day; for women, one drink. If you are overweight, there appears to be no safe amount of alcohol to drink.”
Fatty liver disease is the leading cause of liver disease and a strong sign your liver is under stress, experts say. “Obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol — common features of metabolic syndrome — are all known major risk factors for the development of fatty liver disease,” says Craig Lammert, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine and a practicing gastroenterologist and hepatologist at IU Health. “The scary piece of this is, anywhere from 15 to 50 percent of the nation’s population may have too much fat in the liver… But we don’t always know who that’s going to be.”
Jaundice and changes in bowel movements should be discussed with a doctor as soon as possible, as they could be signs of liver damage. “Symptoms suggestive of liver disease: jaundice, dark urine, or light-colored bowel movements, loss of appetite, fatigue, vomiting of blood, bloody or black bowel movements, swelling or pain in the abdomen, [and] unusual weight changes,” says Mariana Lazo, MD.
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